On ground water, coat hangers, and a possible solution to Ireland's financial woes.

I was made aware of this from an episode of The Righteous Indignation podcast (ep. 74).  If you visit the Citizens Information website for the Government of Ireland, you can find lots of helpful information on a variety of topics, including drilling for a well if you are in a rural area not connected to a municipal water scheme.  This is the information given for establishing a private water supply:

Private water supplies (groundwater)

If you are not part of a water supply scheme (capital or group), you will have to consider boring your own well and drawing out groundwater to supply your needs. People have used water diviners to find out if there is groundwater beneath their land. However, even if a water diviner can tell you where to dig, he or she will not be able to tell you how deep you will have to drill or how much water you are likely to get. You can get this information from the Geological Survey of Ireland and it is usually free of charge.

You should check out the reputation of the well driller and make sure you get a written contract that specifies the terms and conditions of the drilling agreement before drilling begins. To determine how much water you will need, you should allow 230 litres (50 gallons) of water a day for each person in your household. The requirement for your livestock varies from about 140 litres (30 gallons) a day for a dairy cow to about 20 litres (4 gallons) a day for 100 chickens. You must be sure that your well will be able to provide your daily water needs without going dry. For more advice, you should contact your local authority.

When your well is drilled, you should seal it against pollution and make sure it is disinfected. After a few days, you should send a sample of disinfected water from your well to the local Health Service Executive (HSE) for testing. It will then let you know whether your well water is up to drinking standards. If you find out that your water supply has been polluted by negligence, you should contact your local authority. It can prosecute those responsible under theLocal Government (Water Pollution Act), 1977.

If you're wondering, no, you have not misread anything.  The official site for the Government of Ireland is saying the hiring of a diviner is a valid option when locating water on your property.  It's so very odd!  There is a lot of very useful information here about well dimensions, protection against pollution etc.  In fact, right after they mention divining, they say how you should contact the Geological Survey of Ireland, free of charge, to confirm the findings.  Why wouldn't you just go ahead and do that in the first place?  It's also interesting how they warn property owners to check out the reputation of the well driller.  Strange that such a warning was not extended to the silly man with the coat hangers ambling about your property muttering something about energies.  If the Irish government considers divining as a valid enterprise, it's a wonder why they haven't responded to the current financial troubles by organizing state sponsored hunting parties to locate, capture, and then shake down leprechauns for their gold.

Confessions of a reluctant runner

For those of you who may not know, I run.  I try to get at least two runs in during the week over the lunch hour and I've participated in several running events including Run for the Cure, Gorilla Run, and several half and full marathons.  That being said, I still maintain that I am not a runner, rather I am someone who runs.  There is a difference.  Before I had participated in my first half marathon I told myself that I would not consider call myself a runner until I had participated in a major distance event.  It's been four years, five half and four full marathons since that time, and still I cannot call myself a runner.  There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, I don't believe a actually enjoy running.  I like the feeling that come after the run is done, be it 42km or just 5km.  The feeling afterward is, I'll admit, quite rewarding.  But when I'm on the road slogging it out, it's a real pain in the arse.  Seriously.  You've heard of the runner's high, know that thing that other runners talk about, where at some point during their run the endorphins kick in and they can push beyond the pain.  Yeah, not quite sure if I've ever had the pleasure.  From my own personal experience when I'm doing a distance run, if I start hurting it's with me to the bitter end.  Quite simply, when I head out for a run, regardless of the distance, it's always a chore.

Secondly, I don't really fit into the whole running culture.  I'm not up on the latest gear or training points.  I don't have any running partners or belong to a club.  I don't travel outside of the city to attend running events.  I've never learned how to properly pace myself, eat properly, or train effectively for, I'm sorry to say, the simple fact that I can't be bothered.  I really don't want to put that much effort into the whole enterprise.  When I show up to an event, I hang out by myself and watch as others arrive in two's or more, or if not, I see individuals reconnecting with one another from this club or that.

So, why do I do it?  It's not all that enjoyable.  I don't seem to put in a fraction of the effort that I probably should for maximum results.  I can't be bothered to connect with anyone else in the community.  Why do  run?  Well, for one it's cheap.  All you need is a decent pair of shoes and the rest is decoration.  Also, it's a very portable activity.  I can pack my gear and bring it to work with little effort.  I must admit that while the activity itself can be dull and taxing, I do enjoy the time alone.  I get a lot of thinking done on the trails.  However, when I honestly think of why I run, it is for the simple reason that I can.  A simple statement, yes, but one with some history.

There was a time when running was one of the last things I would consider doing.  Aside from forced runs in Phys. Ed., I wouldn't think of running for my own purposes.  There was a time back in high school when I tried to take up running.  I'm not sure what prompted this decision, but I do remember that I would often head out to work off steam after watching our local hockey club lose.  It was better than punching holes in the wall, I guess.  Anyway, by this point in my life I was starting to really pack on the pounds.  This seemed to have an effect on my ability to go any amount of distance without being out of breath and suffering from shin splints.  I had tried this running thing off and on for a couple of months, but in the end it resulted in disappointment.  It wasn't until years later that, on a whim, I purchased a pair of shoes and tried again.  It was winter and we were in the middle of a deep freeze when I set out for my run; not the optimum conditions to inspire.  To my surprise though, I did alright.  I was winded for sure, but my shins did not hurt the way they did before.  My confidence was bolstered and I wanted to try again.  And again.

So, when I say that I run because it's something I can do, it also means that I run because it's something which I didn't think I would be able to do.  That being said, I remain, not a runner, but simply someone who runs.

Another kick at the craicmonkey!

I'm back.  Again.  Am I more committed.  No.  Is this another pointless attempt.  Most likely.  Since last I posted, I have become quite immersed in the virtual reality that is facebook.  This means a couple of things.  First, I have greatly increased my ability to post ideas across the Interwebs and am more prolific than ever before.  Second, given my increased usage of facebook to communicate my thoughts, I am probably setting myself up for failure by trying to sustain a blog at the same time.  Therefore, I will once again proceed with low expectations and see what happens.  Craicmonkey's Delight.  Limping towards mediocrity since 2005.